ES2815377T3 - Location-based network system - Google Patents

Abstract

A location-based network system (100), comprising: a first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) comprising at least one communication module (21) and a processor (22); and a second communication node (bNode1) comprising at least one communication module (21) and a processor (22), and configured to broadcast a data packet, in which the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4 , bNode5, bNode6) is installed in a fixed geographical location and a longitude, a latitude and an altitude of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) are configured in a hardware of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) during an installation procedure of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6); the second communication node (bNode1) is installed in a fixed geographical location, and in which the data packet broadcast by the second communication node (bNode1) comprises a longitude, a latitude and an altitude of the second communication node (bNode1 ); and in which the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) is configured to: receive the data packet broadcast by the second communication node (bNode1); recognizing the destination node (bwRouter1) of the data packet after receiving the data packet broadcast by the second communication node (bNode1); determine if a first distance between the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) and the destination node (bwRouter1) is shorter than a second distance between the second communication node (bNode1) and the destination according to the latitude, longitude and altitude of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6), the latitude, longitude and altitude of the second communication node (bNode1), and the destination node (bwRouter1) ; and broadcast the data packet received from the second communication node (bNode1) when it is determined by the first communication node (bNode3, bNode4, bNode5) that the first distance is shorter than the second distance, in which the data broadcast by the first communication node (bNode3, bNode4, bNode5) comprises the longitude, latitude and altitude of the first communication node (bNode3, bNode4, bNode5).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Location-based network system

Countryside

The subject matter herein generally relates to network systems and communication procedures, and particularly to location-based network systems and location-based communication procedures.

Background

With the development of electronic, sensing and network communication technology, a network system that has multiple terminal devices (which are typically different types of sensors) and multiple transmission nodes has been widely used in a number of fields such as traffic control, environment monitoring, property management, healthcare and other organizations. In general, terminal devices and transmission nodes are limited in computing power, transmission capacity, and storage space. Therefore, the packet transmitted in the network or between the network can be easily lost and the amount of information carried by the packet is smaller. The aforementioned network architecture is also known as low-power lossy networks (LLNs).

US 2006/182126 A1 discloses a method, in which mobile nodes communicate with each other to transfer packets between a source and a destination using a multi-hop strategy to communicate packets in the forward direction and using a network strategy of mobile infestation, alone or in combination with a multi-hop strategy, to communicate packets in the backward direction, thereby exploiting a controlled flood communication scheme that balances trade-offs between capacity enhancement and random packet delay.

Additionally, a routed mesh network propagates data packets along a path hopping from node to node until the packets reach the destination, thereby increasing the rate of delivery of the data packets. To ensure full path availability, the mesh network enables seamless connections and reconfigures itself around broken paths using self-resetting algorithms.

The present invention is provided by appended claim 1. Beneficial embodiments are provided in the dependent claims. The following disclosure serves for a better understanding of the present invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based network system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2A to Figure 2E are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based network system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3A to Figure 3G are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based system in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

Figure 4A to Figure 4H are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based system in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

Figure 5A to Figure 5G are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based network system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example related to unmanned aerial vehicles in the location-based network system of Figure 1-5G.

Figure 7A to Figure 7C are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based network system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based network system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed description

The invention made is disclosed in the attached independent claim. Additional embodiments are disclosed in the accompanying set of dependent claims. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated between the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a complete understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obstruct the related relevant feature being described. Drawings are not necessarily to scale and proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based network system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In Figure 1, a location-based network system 100 includes at least one bwRouter / wGateway switching node and a plurality of bNode / wNode communication nodes. The bwRouter / wGateway switching nodes can receive data packets from at least one bTag / wTag terminal device through the bNode / wNode communication nodes, and additionally can transmit data packets to at least one bTag / wTag terminal device through of the communication nodes bNode / wNode. More specifically, the bwRouter / wGateway switching nodes can additionally connect to a cloud network platform 40 so that the location-based network system 100 can transmit the data packets to the cloud network platform 40 or receive the data packets from the cloud network platform 40. The arrows in Figure 1 represent a transmission direction of the data packets. Basically, the terminal device bTag, the communication node bNode, the switching node bRouter / bwRouter have a Bluetooth function, and the terminal device wTag, the communication node wNode, the switching node wRouter / bwRouter / wGateway have a function. of WiFi. The switching node bwRouter of Figure 1 can be replaced by the switching node wRouter to better build the location-based network system 100.

The switching node bwRouter / wRouter can be a router, the switching node wGateway can be a gateway. Also, each switching node can include at least one communication module 11 and a processor 12. In this embodiment, the processor 12 can be a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, a single chip, a microprogrammed control unit. (MCU) or a system on a chip (SOC). More specifically, the bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway switching node can use utility power or battery power as the power source and use its communication module to communicate with the bNode / wNode communication nodes and the network platform 40 on the cloud. Furthermore, the communication of bwRouter is mainly based on the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol and the WIFI protocol, and the communication of wGateway is mainly based on the WIFI protocol and / or 3G / 4G / 5G mobile telecommunication technology.

The bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway switching nodes can use other protocols to communicate with the bNode / wNode communication nodes and the cloud network platform 40, such as the Bluetooth protocol, the ZigBee protocol, the ANT + protocol, the worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WIMAX) and / or the Long Term Evolution protocol (LTE). Additionally, the communication module at the switching nodes can be an integrated communication module adapted for a variety of protocols. For example, the communication module in the bwRouter / wGateway switching node may include a dual-band WIFI module and a dual-mode Bluetooth module. The dual-band WIFI module can work in both the 5 GHz band and the 2.4 GHz band and can be used in long-range wireless transmission. The dual-mode Bluetooth module can include a master module and a slave module and can be used in short-range wireless transmission. Additionally, the bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway switching nodes can connect to the cloud network platform in a wired manner (eg Ethernet or other fixed network protocols).

The bNode / wNode communication nodes may include at least one wireless communication module 21 and a processor 22. In this embodiment, the processor 12 may be a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, a single chip, a processor unit. microprogrammed control (MCU) or a system on a chip (SOC). More specifically, the bNode / wNode communication nodes can use utility power as the main power source, although a variety of batteries can also serve as the power source. In the location-based network system 100, the communication node bNode performs data transmission and communicates with the other communication nodes, the switching nodes or the terminal devices mainly on the basis of the Bluetooth protocol or the Bluetooth low energy protocol. (BLE). However, in other embodiments, the communication node bNode can also perform data transmission with the other communication nodes, the switching nodes or the terminal devices based on other protocols, such as the ZigBee protocol or the ANT + protocol. In general, the communication node bNode has a shorter effective transmission distance and therefore needs to be arranged in a dense way. On the other hand, the wNode communication node generally performs long-distance wireless transmission. Furthermore, the communication node wNode carries out data transmission and communicates with the other communication nodes, the switching nodes or the terminal devices mainly on the basis of the WIFI protocol. Additionally, the node communication wNode can perform data transmission and communicate with the other communication nodes, switching nodes or terminal devices based on the IEEE 802.11ah protocol, which uses license-exempt bands below 1 GHz (such as 315 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz, 915 MHz) to provide extended range WIFI networks. In other embodiments, the bNode / wNode communication nodes can be established in groups, and connection and exchange of digital information between the groups of communication nodes can be performed by a universal asynchronous receiver / emitter (UART), a peripheral interface bus serial (SPI Bus), an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) or in a combination module such as Broadcom BCM4335 or Intel® Edison board.

In this embodiment, the bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway switching nodes and the bNode / wNode communication nodes are respectively installed in a plurality of facilities or a plurality of reference points having fixed locations. For example, the facilities can be indoor lighting fixtures, street lamps, traffic lights, electrical appliances, or the like, and the points of interest can be railings, notice boards, or the like. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing. For example, switching nodes and communication nodes can be integrated with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to be arranged in indoor lighting fixtures or street lamps. On the other hand, the communication nodes can be a stand-alone communication module powered by a battery.

It should be noted that, during the installation procedure, it is important to install or arrange the bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway switching nodes and the bNode / wNode communication nodes in fixed geographic locations. Specifically, the switching nodes and communication nodes are installed or arranged at fixed lengths, latitudes and altitudes. During the installation procedure, the longitudes, latitudes, and altitudes of the switching nodes and those of the communication nodes are set in the hardware respectively. Furthermore, the communication node is able to record the longitudes, latitudes and altitudes of neighboring switching nodes. Also, the latitude and longitude of the switching node or the communication node can be established using a built-in global positioning system (GPS) module.

The bTag / wTag terminal device connected to the location-based network system 100 may be a mobile communication device, a wearable sensing device, an implantable sensing device, a household appliance, a fixed sensing device, a stationary actuator, or Similar. However, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing. More specifically, the mobile communication device can be a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a laptop. The mobile communication device connected to the location-based network system 100 can send a call or text message to the cloud network platform 40 or other mobile communication devices through the bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway switching nodes. and the communication nodes bNode / wNode. In addition, the mobile communication device can use various applications that require network connection based on the location-based network system 100.

In addition, the wearable sensing device may be a sensing device worn by the user to measure physiological parameters, such as a sphygmomanometer, an oximeter, a plantar pressure sensor, a brain wave sensor, a gyroscope, or a triaxial accelerometer. And the implantable detection device can be an implantable ECG sensor. Therefore, the location-based network system 100 can be a part of a medical monitoring infrastructure to help a hospital or a doctor monitor the health status of patients at any time. Various physiological parameters obtained by the wearable detection device can be transmitted to a medical monitoring system incorporated in the cloud network platform 40 through the location-based network system 100.

Furthermore, the household appliance can be a household electronic product, such as a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a fan or a TV. The fixed sensing device can be a sensing device (for example, a thermometer, a hygrometer, a manometer or a luminance meter) installed in a room or in a variety of furniture (for example, a sink, a toilet, a closet, bathroom, ceiling, wall, chair or bed) to measure environmental parameters. In addition, the fixed detection device can be a magnetic reed switch installed in a refrigerator handle, a drawer, a window, a locker, a tap, a gas switch, and other opening and closing devices. By connecting home appliances, fixed detection devices, and stationary actuators to the location-based network system 100, a smart home environment could be realized, thereby making a user monitor and control the home environment through the system 100. location-based network.

It should be noted that the bTag terminal device can be an RFID tag affixed to objects (i.e. tools, consumables and goods of a business residence, factory and family), people (i.e. children, the elderly and foreign domestic workers) or animals (eg, pets, zoo animals, forest animals) and other objects whose communication or location is desired. The bNode communication node can include or combine with a UHF RFID reader to read RFID tags affixed to objects, people and animals. Once the at least one communication node bNode reads the RFID tag, the at least one communication node bNode transmits its own latitude, longitude and altitude to the cloud network platform or a server using the network system 100 location-based, thereby obtaining the location of the RFID tag affixed to the object, person, or animal. If there are at least three communication nodes bNode reading the same RFID tag at the same time, the cloud network platform or server can accurately calculate the location of the RFID tag using triangulation technology. On the other hand, the RFID tag can include data related to the latitude, longitude and altitude at which the object should be located. Therefore, when the RFID reader reads and transmits the latitude, longitude and altitude where the object should be located to the cloud network platform or the server, the cloud network platform or the server can direct to an operator or a robot to position the object having an RFID tag affixed within or at the corresponding location.

The UHF RFID reader can be combined with the bNode communication node via a universal serial bus (USB), a universal asynchronous receiver / emitter (UART), a serial peripheral interface bus (SPI Bus), an inter-integrated circuit (I2C ) or similar. For example, the UHF RFID reader can use a Phychips PR9200 UHF RFID reader chip, Ams EPC Class1 AS3993 single chip reader, or Indy RFID reader chips.

The above use of RFID tag and RFID reader can be done in business management field where cloud network platform can help to get location, inventory level and / or operation parameters of the tools / goods, or it can be done in a home monitoring field where the cloud network platform can help to monitor the location and physiological states of the child, the elderly or the pet.

Also, it should be noted that the bTag terminal device may additionally include or be combined with a visible light communication (VLC) sensor tag and the bNode communication node may include or be combined with a VLC transceiver. The ^v L ^c transceiver can be combined with the bNode communication node using a universal serial bus (USB), a universal asynchronous receiver / emitter (UART), a serial peripheral interface bus (SPI Bus), an inter-integrated circuit ( I2C) or similar. Once the at least one communication node bNode reads the VLC sensor tag, the at least one communication node bNode transmits its own latitude, longitude and altitude to the cloud network platform or a server using system 100 location-based network network, thereby obtaining the location of the VLC sensor tag affixed to the object, person, or animal. If there are at least three bNode communication nodes reading a single VLC sensor tag at the same time, the cloud network platform or server can accurately calculate the location of the VLC sensor tag using triangulation technology.

On the other hand, the VLC sensor tag can be replaced by a mobile phone camera, so that the location of the mobile phone can be calculated using triangulation technology, for example, based on the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of nodes of bNode communication.

In this embodiment, the bTag terminal device can use a variety of batteries as the power source and perform data transmission and communicate with the communication nodes based on the Bluetooth protocol, the Bluetooth low energy protocol (BLE), the WIFI protocol. , the ZigBee protocol or the ANT + protocol, for example. However, it should be noted that the bTag terminal device is not limited to the above. In other embodiments, the bTag terminal device can serve as a router and connect to the cloud network platform 40. The bTag terminal device performs data transmission and communicates with the cloud network platform based on the World Interoperability Protocol for Microwave Access (WIMAX), the Long-Term Evolution Protocol (LTE), the Bluetooth low-cost protocol. energy (BLE) or the WIFI protocol, for example. In other words, the wireless communication module in the bTag terminal device can be an integrated wireless communication module adapted for a variety of protocols. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, bTag fixed type terminal devices, such as an appliance or a furniture fixed sensing device, can serve as the bNode communication node to improve the reliability of the location-based network system 100.

Figure 2A to Figure 2E are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based network system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Next, a data transmission method in the location-based network system is explained with reference to Figure 2A to Figure 2E. With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2A to Figure 2E, in the embodiment, the location-based network system 100 transmits data packets from a terminal device bTag1 to a switching node bwRouter1 through communication nodes bNode1- bNode9. The communication nodes bNode1-bNode9 can be operated respectively in one of the master mode and the slave mode. In this embodiment, each of the communication nodes bNode1-bNode9 can include at least one communication module and a processor. The processor is configured to switch the mode of operation of the communication node between master mode and slave mode. In this embodiment, the processor can be a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, a single chip, a microprogrammed control unit (MCU), or a system on a chip (SOC). When the communication nodes (for example, the communication nodes bNode2-bNode6 in Figure 2A) operate in master mode, the communication nodes bNode2-bNode6 respectively monitor other communication nodes to receive the data packet from other communication nodes. communication (for example, communication node bNode1 in Figure 2A) operating in slave mode. In general, the bNode communication node normally operates in master mode to constantly monitor whether any data packets need to be transmitted. However, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing.

After the communication nodes bNode2-bNode6 receive the data packet from the communication node bNode1, the processor of each of the communication nodes bNode2-bNode6 recognizes additionally a destination node of the data packet. In Figure 2A through Figure 2E, the destination node of the data packet is the switching node bwRouterl. Next, the processor of each of the communication nodes bNode2-bNode6 determines whether the operation mode should switch to slave mode according to the actual distance between its communication node and the switching node bwRouter1, and the actual distance between the communication node bNode1 and the switching node bwRouter1.

For example, the actual distance between the communication node bNode3 and the switching node bwRouter1, the actual distance between the communication node bNode4 and the switching node bwRouter1, and the actual distance between the communication node bNode5 and the switching node bwRouter1 are all shorter than the actual distance between communication node bNode1 and switching node bwRouter1, therefore, as shown in Figure 2B, communication nodes bNode3, bNode4, and bNode5 switch to slave mode. When the communication nodes bNode3, bNode4 and bNode5 operate in slave mode, the communication nodes bNode3, bNode4 and bNode5 broadcast the data packet. On the other hand, the actual distance between the communication node bNode2 and the switching node bwRouter1, and the actual distance between the communication node bNode6 and the switching node bwRouter1 are longer than the actual distance between the communication node bNode1 and the switching node bwRouter1, therefore the communication nodes bNode2 and bNode6 continue to operate in master mode. Therefore, the communication nodes bNode2 and bNode6 do not broadcast the data packet. Then, as shown in Figure 2C, after broadcasting the data packet, the operating modes of the communication nodes bNode3, bNode4 and bNode5 switch back to master mode and monitor other communication nodes.

Similarly, after the communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 receive the data packet, the communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 additionally recognize the destination node (that is, the switching node bwRouter1) of the data packet. Next, the processor of each of the communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 respectively determines whether the operating mode should switch to the slave mode according to the actual distance between its communication mode and the switching node bwRouter1, and the current distances between the communication nodes bNode3-bNode5 and the switching node bwRouter1.

As shown in Figure 2C, because the current distances between the communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 and the switching node bwRouter1 are respectively shorter than the current distances between the communication nodes bNode3-bNode5 and the switching node bwRouter1 , the communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 respectively switch to slave mode and broadcast the data packet. Then all data packets broadcast by communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 are received by switching node bwRouter1. Therefore, the data transmission is very reliable and efficient.

In this embodiment, the communication node bNode determines the actual distance between the communication nodes bNode and the destination node mainly according to the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of the communication node bNode and the destination node (for example, the node switch bwRouter1 of Figure 2A). Take the embodiment of Figure 2A, for example, the communication node bNode4 calculates the actual distance between the communication node bNode1 and the switching node bwRouter1 and the actual distance between the communication node bNode4 and the switching node bwRouter1 according to with the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of the communication nodes bNode1 and bNode4 and the switching node bwRouter1 (the destination node).

As described above, while the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the communication node bNode are being set, the communication node bNode records the latitudes, longitudes, and altitudes of the neighboring communication nodes bNode and the switching nodes bwRouter and wGateway. However, it should be noted that the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of neighboring nodes can be recorded after the communication node performs the hopping mechanism. Furthermore, after receiving the data packet from the other bNode communication nodes operating in slave mode, the bNode communication node operating in master mode can recognize latitudes, longitudes, altitudes, addresses from the data packet. media access control (MAC addresses) and received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from the latter. Take Figure 2A as an example, after receiving the data packet from the communication node bNode1, the communication node bNode4 can recognize the latitude, longitude, altitude, media access control address (MAC address) and value of Received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from communication node bNode1.

Table 1 Data packet form

Table 1 illustrates the form of the data packet in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In general, the data packet includes two parts, a raw data part and a communication node data part. The raw data part additionally includes source ID, delivery time, delivery location, and data content. The source ID can be the MAC address of the terminal device or the switching node that initially broadcasts the data packet. The delivery time is the transmission time of the data packet. The delivery location includes the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the terminal device or switching node that initially broadcasts the data packet. Data content is the data that the data packet transmits. For example, the data content can be the data detected by the terminal devices. The communication node data part further includes broadcast time and communication node address. The broadcast time represents the time that the data packet is broadcast by the communication node, and the communication node address refers to the latitude, longitude and altitude of the communication node broadcasting the data packet. In this embodiment, the data in the data packet can be in binary, hexadecimal, or binary-coded decimal (BCD) form. It is to be noted that the shape of the data packet is not limited to the above and may be varied according to the implementation of the location-based network system.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication node bNode may include a routing table and a loop detection table. The routing table is used to record the latitudes, longitudes, and altitudes of neighboring switch nodes bwRouter and wGateway. The loop detection table is used to record an acknowledgment code of the received data packet and the latitude, longitude and altitude of the communication node broadcasting the received data packet. Take Figure 2A as an example, the communication node bNode4 is able to correctly determine if it should switch to slave mode to broadcast the data packet based on the help of the routing table and the loop detection table. It should be noted that the communication node bNode can use the loop detection table to assist in checking whether the data packet has already been broadcast. Take Figure 2C as an example, when communication node bNode4 switches back to master mode and receives the data packet from communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 operating in slave mode, communication node bNode4 can choose to stop the data packet broadcast since the loop detection table has already registered the data packet recognition code.

The data packet acknowledgment code may include (1) the MAC address of the terminal device or the switching node that initially broadcasts the data packet, (2) the latitude, longitude and altitude of the terminal device or the switching node which initially broadcasts the data packet, (3) the latitude, longitude, altitude of the communication node closest to the terminal device transmitting the data packet, and / or (4) an initial delivery time of the data packet. In this embodiment, the acknowledgment code in the data packet of Table 1 is included in the source ID or delivery location in the raw data part.

It is to be noted that the communication node bNode may not necessarily include the routing table and the loop detection table. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication node bNode may include only the routing table, or include neither the routing table nor the loop detection table. In the event that the communication node bNode does not include the routing table and the loop detection table, the shape of the data packet is modified in such a way that, when the data packet is received, the communication node bNode checks the received data packet to help determine if it should switch to slave mode to broadcast the data packet.

Referring again to Figure 1 and Figure 2A to Figure 2C, the location-based network system 100 may be able to further check whether the data packet is successfully transmitted between the communication nodes bNode. Take Figure 2A to Figure 2B for example, after communication node bNode1 broadcasts the data packet, communication node bNode1 switches from slave mode back to master mode and monitors the other communication nodes. And, the communication node bNode1 operating in the master mode also monitors the data packet broadcast by the communication node bNode4 operating in the slave mode. The communication node bNode1 then receives the same data packet again. Because the data packet includes the acknowledgment code, the communication node bNode1 easily recognizes that the data packet has been broadcast and therefore determines that the data packet is successfully received by the communication node bNode4.

The location-based network system 100 is able to further avoid a damaged communication node and maintains the data transmission performance properly. As shown in Figure 2D, if the communication node bNode4 is damaged and unable to receive data, the communication nodes bNode3 and bNode5 can assist in broadcasting the data packet. In particular, the location-based network system 100 has higher reliability.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2E, Figure 2E further illustrates an operation of another location-based network system 100. As shown in Figure 2E, if the communication nodes bNode3-bNode5 are all damaged, the data packet broadcast by the communication node bNode1 operating in slave mode cannot be transmitted back from the communication nodes bNode3-bNode5. to the communication node bNode1 operating in master mode. If the communication node bNode1 still does not receive the data packet after a waiting period, the communication node bNodel switches to slave mode and broadcasts the data packet again. Additionally, if the communication node bNode1 still does not receive the data packet again after a confirmation period longer than the waiting period, the communication node bNode1 determines that the communication nodes bNode3-bNode5 are damaged, increasing by thereby transmitting power and switching to slave mode to broadcast the data packet again. Therefore, the communication nodes bNode7-bNode9 operating in the master mode can receive the data packet broadcast by the communication node bNode1. Furthermore, in another embodiment, after the communication node bNode1 increases the transmission power, the broadcast data packet can be received directly by the destination node (bwRouter1). In yet another embodiment, if the communication node bNode1 further includes a light-emitting diode or other light sources therein, the communication node bNode1 may activate a corresponding warning light to notify the user of the network system 100 based on location to repair damaged communication nodes bNode3-bNode5.

Figure 2A through Figure 2E illustrate the embodiment of the location-based network system 100 in which the terminal device bTag1 transmits the data packet to the switching node bwRouter1. However, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing. An electronic device connected to the cloud network platform 40 can also transmit the data packet to the bTag terminal device through the location-based network system 100 based on the transmission procedure depicted in Figure 2A to Figure 2E. Note that the cloud network platform 40 can record the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of all the bwRouter and wGateway switching nodes, the bNode communication nodes and the bTag terminal device at the initial establishment of the network system 100. location-based, so that the data packet can be successfully transmitted to the destination node. However, the cloud network platform 40 can also record the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of the switching nodes bwRouter and wGateway, the communication nodes bNode and the terminal device bTag receiving the data packet transmitted from the system 100 of location-based network. In another embodiment, the cloud network platform 40 does not accurately record the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the bTag terminal device, but rather records the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the bNode communication node closest to the bTag terminal device, to position the bTag terminal device. In yet another embodiment, the bTag terminal device obtains the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of several bNode communication nodes closest to the bTag terminal device and consequently calculates the location of the bTag terminal device based on triangulation technology and then loads a result of calculation of the same to the cloud network platform 40.

It should be noted that the data transmission procedure described in the previous embodiment is also applicable to a network architecture composed of the communication node wNode, the terminal device wTag, the switching nodes bwRouter or wRouter and wGateway and the platform 40 of cloud network. In other words, the latitudes, longitudes and altitudes of the communication node wNode, the terminal device wTag and the switching nodes bwRouter and wGateway are also used to determine and decide the transmission path of the data packet.

Also, after the transmission path is determined using the above procedure, the communication node or the terminal device, which is a source node, and the switching node, which is the destination node of the data packet, can further storing all transmission paths of the data packet and assigning the priority of each transmission path according to a sequence of the data packet arrived at the destination node. In other words, if the data packet transmitted on a first transmission path arrives first, a higher priority will be assigned to the first transmission path. If the data packet transmitted on a third transmission path arrives second, a second higher priority will be assigned to the third transmission path. During the transmission of a data packet between the source node and the destination node, the transmission path that has the highest priority will be selected to transmit the data packet. If the transmission path that has the highest priority becomes congested, the transmission path that has the second highest priority will be selected. Therefore, data packets can be transmitted quickly and accurately.

Figure 3A to Figure 3G are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based network system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrative embodiment shown as Figure 3A to Figure 3G, the location-based network system 100 includes a number of communication nodes bNode11-bNode 17 and a switching node bwRouter2. The communication nodes bNode11-bNode17 can be street lamps arranged along at least one side of a street or a bridge shown in Figure 6, for example. The switching node bwRouter2 can be arranged at one end of the street or bridge, and the streetlights and the switching node can form an Internet of Things (IoT) system. In an alternative embodiment, the location-based system 100 may additionally include two switch nodes bwRouter2 (not shown), the two switch nodes bwRouter2 may be arranged at two ends of the street or bridge. In other embodiments, the switching node bwRouter2 can be arranged in the middle of the street or the bridge. Each of the communication nodes bNode11-bNode17 can include a processor and a Bluetooth module to communicate with the other communication nodes and the switching node bwRouter2. Communication nodes (eg street lamps) can be operated in one of a master mode and a slave mode.

In this illustrative embodiment, in an initial state, each of the communication nodes is in the mode master, as shown in Figure 3A. The processor in each of the communication nodes can acquire environmental parameters from at least one sensor that can be mounted on the streetlight. In this embodiment, the sensor is configured to monitor environmental parameters, eg, air humidity, pollution levels, ambient noise, ambient luminance, a traffic flow. Therefore, the sensor can be a hygrometer to monitor air humidity, an air quality monitor to monitor pollution levels, a noise meter or microphone to monitor ambient noise, a luminance meter to monitor luminance. environment, a traffic detector to monitor a flow of traffic, and other sensors that monitor the environment. The processor additionally compares the acquired environmental parameters with historical environmental parameters to determine if the environment is abnormal. If the processor of the communication node bNode12 determines that the environment is abnormal, the processor of the communication node bNode12 generates a data packet that includes the acquired environmental parameters and indicates the abnormal condition. The processor of the communication node bNode12 also switches the communication node bNode12 to slave mode, as shown in Figure 3B, and broadcasts the data packet, as shown in Figure 3C. If the communication nodes bNode11 and bNode13-bNode15 receive the data packet, the communication node bNode11 and bNode13-bNode15 respectively recognize a destination node of the data packet. In this embodiment, the destination node of the data packet is the switching node bwRouter2. Meanwhile, each of the communication nodes bNode11 and bNode13-bNode15 determines whether it should switch to slave mode according to the current distances between itself and the switching node bwRouter2 and an actual distance between the communication node bNode12 and the node. switch bwRouter2.

In this embodiment, the actual distance between the communication node bNode13 and the switching node bwRouter2, the actual distance between the communication node bNode14 and the switching node bwRouter2, and the actual distance between the communication node bNode15 and the switching node bwRouter2 are shorter than the actual distance between communication node bNode12 and switching node bwRouter2. On the other hand, the actual distance between the communication node bNode11 and the switching node bwRouter2 is greater than the actual distance between the communication node bNode12 and the switching node bwRouter2. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3D, the communication nodes bNode13-bNode15 switch to the slave mode, and the communication node bNode12 remains or switches to the master mode. As shown in Figure 3E, when operating in the slave mode, the communication nodes bNode13-bNode15 respectively broadcast the data packet. Then the communication nodes bNode11-bNode12, bNode16-bNode17 and the switching node bwRouter2 can receive the data packet. Similarly, after receiving the data packet, each of the communication nodes bNode11-bNode12 and bNode16-bNode17 additionally recognizes the destination node (that is, the switching node bwRouter2) of the data packet, and determines whether it should switch to slave mode and broadcast the data packet according to the current distances between it and the switching node bwRouter2 and the current distances between the communication nodes bNode13-bNode15 and the switching node bwRouter2. Then, as shown in Figure 3F, communication nodes bNode13-bNode15 switch to master mode, and communication nodes bNode16-bNode17 switch to slave mode and broadcast the data packet to bwRouter2. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 3G, the communication nodes bNode16-bNode17 switch to master mode. In this illustrative embodiment, although switching node bwRouter2 has received the data packet from bNode15, communication nodes bNode16-bNode17 also broadcast the data packet to switching node bwRouter2 to increase the reliability of data transmission, and avoid transmission failure.

Therefore, the bwRouter2 switching node can receive the abnormal environmental parameters quickly and reliably. Additionally, the switching node bwRouter2 can further transmit the abnormal environmental parameters to the cloud network platform 40, and thus related personnel can monitor the environment continuously and / or in real time, and a city can be built. smart. It is to be noted that the operation described in the above embodiment is not limited thereto. The bNode11-bNode17 communication nodes can additionally monitor nearby bTag end devices and receive information from bTag end devices (e.g. mobile phone, smart band, unmanned aerial vehicle and unmanned ground vehicle) that are closest to the bTag endpoints. communication bNode11-bNode17. The acquired information may be a request entered by a user to search for a location of a store, a business, a scenic spot, a taxi, and the like. The information acquired can be incorporated in addition to location information, business information, multimedia information and other information shared by the user who has the bTag or wTag terminal device. Therefore, the user is able to use the location-based network system 100 to acquire and share information instead of using the Internet.

In the alternate embodiment, a source communication node (i.e., communication node bNode12) that originally broadcasts the data packet first determines which switching node bwRouter2 is closest according to the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the two. switching nodes bwRouter2 and the latitude, longitude and altitude of the communication node bNode12, and determines that the closest switching node bwRouter2 of the two switching nodes bwRouter2 will be the destination node. Next, the source communication node bNode12 transmits the data packet to the destination node (the closest switching node bwRouter2) using the procedure as described above. By using the two bwRouter2 switching nodes, the transmission speed can be increased. On the other hand, if one of the two switching nodes bwRouter2 breaks, the communication nodes bNode11-15 can still transmit the data packet to the other switching node bwRouter2. Additionally, if one of the communication nodes (that is, the communication node bNode15) determines that the destination node (the closest switching node bwRouter2) is broken, the communication node bNode15 can additionally generate an alert message and transmit the alert message to the other switching node bwRouter2 or the network platform 40 in the cloud through the communication nodes in the location-based network system 100, reporting the broken switch node bwRouter2. In this embodiment, if the communication node bNode15 determines that the switching node bwRouter2 cannot receive the data packet for a predetermined number of times, such as 3 times, the communication node bNode15 determines that the switching node bwRouter2 is broken. . In this embodiment, the alert message at least includes the longitude, latitude and altitude of the broken switch node bwRouter2.

Figure 4A to Figure 4H are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based network system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the location-based network 100 includes a switching node bwRouter3 and a number of communication nodes bNode21-bNode26, bNode31-bNode36, bNode41-bNode46, and bNode51-56 arranged in two dimensions. In this illustrative embodiment, the communication nodes can be streetlights arranged along multiple streets. For example, communication nodes bNode21-bNode26 can be arranged along a first street, communication nodes bNode31-bNode36 can be arranged along a second street, communication nodes bNode41-bNode46 can be arranged along a third street and the communication nodes bNode51-bNode 56 can be arranged along a fourth street. Each of the streetlights can monitor environmental parameters to detect abnormal environmental conditions. Each of the communication nodes can operate in one of a master mode and a slave mode.

In this illustrative embodiment, in an initial state, each of the communication nodes is in the master mode, as shown in Figure 4A. If both the communication node bNode32 and the communication node bNode42 detect an abnormal condition in the environment, the communication nodes bNode32 and bNode42 respectively generate a data packet indicating the abnormal condition. Then, as shown in Figure 4B, each of the communication nodes bNode32 and bNode42 switches to slave mode and broadcasts the data packet. Then, as shown in Figure 4C, the communication nodes bNode21-bNode23, bNode31 and bNode33-34 can receive the data packet from the communication node bNode32. The communication nodes bNode41, bNode43 and bNode52 can receive the data packet from the communication node bNode42.

In this embodiment, if a communication node, such as the communication node bNode43, detects two or more data packets from different communication nodes at the same time, the communication node can compare the current distances to each of the communication nodes. communication broadcasting the data packets and receiving the data packet broadcast by the nearest communication node. However, it should be noted that the communication node can receive all the detected data packets at the same time.

After receiving the data packet, each of the communication nodes bNode21-bNode23, bNode31 and bNode33-bNode34 recognizes the destination node of the data packet (that is, the switching node bwRouter3) and determines whether it should switch to mode slave according to the current distances between itself and the switching node bwRouter3 and an actual distance between the communication node bNode32 and the switching node bwRouter3. In this embodiment, the distance between the communication node bNode33 and the switching node bwRouter3 and the distance between the communication node bNode34 and the switching node bwRouter3 are shorter than the distance between the communication node bNode32 and the switching node. bwRouter3. Therefore, the communication nodes bNode33 and bNode34 switch to the slave mode and broadcast the data packet received from the communication node bNode32, as shown in Figure 4D, and the communication node bNode32 switches to the master mode. Also, after receiving the data packet from the communication node bNode42, each of the communication node bNode41, bNode43 and bNode52 recognizes the destination node of the data packet (that is, the switching node bwRouter3) and determines if it should switch to slave mode according to the actual distance between it and the switching node bwRouter3 and an actual distance between the communication node bNode42 and the switching node bwRouter3. For example, the actual distance between the communication node bNode43 and the switching node bwRouter3 is shorter than the actual distance between the communication node bNode42 and the switching node bwRouter3 and therefore the communication node bNode43 switches to mode slave and broadcasts the data packet received from communication node bNode42, as shown in Figure 4D, and communication node bNode42 switches to master mode.

By such analogy, as shown in Figure 4E to Figure 4H, the data packets will be transmitted to the switching node bwRouter3 through the communication nodes. Therefore, the bwRouter3 can detect all abnormal conditions in the environment through the location-based network system 100.

It should be noted that the communication nodes can be arranged in three dimensions (eg different floors of a building). The data packets can be transmitted to the switching node bwRouter through the communication nodes bNode and / or wNode arranged in three-dimensional space using the above procedure. In at least one embodiment, a routing map can be formed according to a Google ™ map or a 3D model of the environment.

It should be noted that, during data transmission, a specifically established data transmission path is not required between the communication nodes in the location-based network system, and the Data packet can be accurately transmitted to the correct destination node by the above-mentioned hop. Furthermore, using the broadcast mechanism, the data packet is capable of being received simultaneously by multiple communication nodes and each of the communication nodes is capable of evaluating whether it should forward the received data packet. Therefore, the reliability of data transmission is improved. Additionally, communication nodes, terminal devices and switching nodes can form an intranet, reducing the risk generated from the Internet.

Also, it is to be noted that the location-based network system including the communication nodes can perform data transmission according to an established connection path and is not restricted to hopping by broadcast. Therefore, the location-based network system is more flexible and easier to use. The location-based system shown in Figure 5A to Figure 5G can be taken as an example to illustrate the location-based network system that performs data transmission according to the established connection path.

Referring to Figure 5A to Figure 5G, the location-based network system 100 includes a number of communication nodes bNode61-bNode67 and at least one switching node bwRouter4. The communication nodes bNode61-bNode67 can be street lamps arranged along at least one side of a street or a bridge, as shown in Figure 6, and the switching node bwRouter4 can be arranged at one of two ends of the street. or the bridge. In an alternative embodiment, the location-based system 100 may include two switching nodes bwRouter4 arranged at two ends of the street or bridge. The streetlights and the switching node can form an Internet of Things (IoT) system. Each of the communication nodes bNode61-bNode67 can include a processor and a Bluetooth module to communicate with the other communication nodes and the switching node bwRouter4. Each of the bNode61-bNode67 communication nodes can operate in one of a master mode and a slave mode.

In this embodiment, in an initial state, each of the communication node bNode61-bNode67 is in the slave mode, as shown in Figure 5A. When a terminal device bTag1 (such as a mobile phone, a smart band, an unmanned ground vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle) is close to one of the communication nodes (that is, the communication node bNode62) and sends a data packet, the communication node bNode62 switches to master mode and receives the data packet, as shown in Figure 5B. In this embodiment, the data packet sent by the terminal device bTag1 may include a request entered by a user through an application installed on the terminal device bTag1, the request entered to search for a location of a bathroom, a store, an office , a business, a scenic spot, and other locations that users want to see. The data packet sent by the terminal device bTag1 may additionally include a variety of information, such as location information of the terminal device bTag1 itself, business information, information shared by a user in an application installed on the terminal device bTag1 or the like.

Next, as shown in Figure 5C, the communication node bNode62 detects the neighboring communication nodes (that is, the communication nodes bNode61, bNode 63, bNode64, and bNode65). The communication node bNode62 then calculates the actual distance between the detected communication nodes (that is, the communication node bNode61, bNode63, bNode64, and bNode65) and the switching node bwRouter4, according to latitude, longitude, and distance. altitude of the detected communication nodes and the latitude, longitude and altitude of the switching node bwRouter4. The communication node bNode62 further selects a communication node that is closer to the switching node bwRouter4 to connect to according to the actual calculated distance. As shown in Figure 5D, for example, the actual distance between the communication node bNode65 and the switching node bwRouter3 is the shortest, therefore the communication node bNode62 connects to the communication node bNode65 and transmits the packet of data to communication node bNode65. Subsequently, the communication node bNode62 switches back to slave mode.

In Figure 5E, the communication node bNode65 switches to the master mode after receiving the data packet from the communication node bNode62. Next, in Figure 5F, the communication node bNode65 repeats the data transmission procedure shown in Figure 5C to Figure 5D, and the destination node (switching node bwRouter3) is detected by the communication node bNode65 and Therefore, the communication node bNode65 connects directly to the switching node bwRouter4 and transmits the data packet to the switching node bwRouter4. Therefore, the switching node bwRouter4 can get the information from the terminal device bTag1.

The bwRouter4 switching node can additionally transmit the data packet to the cloud network platform, and thus the cloud network platform can transmit the data packet to other users who require the data packet, or responding to the terminal device bTag1 corresponding information in response to the data packet. For example, if the data packet sent by the terminal device bTag1 includes a request entered by the user to find a location of a scenic place, the cloud network platform can send back a data packet that includes a map of the location. picturesque place to bTag1 terminal device; If the data packet sent by the bTag1 terminal device includes information that the user shared in an application installed on the bTag1 terminal device, the cloud network platform can share the information to other users through the network-based systems location connected to the cloud network platform and therefore other people can get the shared information.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example related to unmanned aerial vehicles in the location-based network system of Figure 1-5G. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used as part of the communication nodes, and each of the UAVs can include a first wireless communication module, a second wireless communication module, and a processor. The UAV can operate in two modes as shown in Figure 1-5G. Referring to Figure 2, for example, the UAVs can be the communication nodes that are located in places that are difficult to reach and have sensors that activate the UAVs from the master mode to the slave mode to broadcast the data packet, extending the location-based network system, a mesh network. Referring to Figure 5, for example, UAVs can be bTag terminal devices that continuously monitor the environment and upload data to a specific area automatically. The UAVs may have predetermined thresholds for abnormal signals to trigger the UAVs to pair a nearby communication node and load the data packet indicating the abnormal condition. Next, the connected communication node integrated with the streetlight, indicated as bNode in Figure 6, is triggered from slave mode to master mode to transmit the data packet, making the mesh network more flexible. The data packet sent by the UAV can additionally include information from videos, audios and photographs taken by the UAV. Furthermore, the bTag terminal device (UAV) may additionally include actuators. For example, the sensor can be a smoke detector or a fog detector and the actuator can be a fire alarm and a high luminance LED. It should be noted that UAVs can be returned to a stationary platform close to the owner for recharging or maintenance.

Figure 7A to Figure 7C are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of a location-based network system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to Figure 7A to Figure 7C, the location-based network system 100 transmits the data packet from the terminal device wTag1 to the switching node (for example, bwRouter1 or wRouter1) through communication nodes wNode1-wNode9. . Referring to Figure 7A, after receiving the data packet from the terminal device wTag1, the communication node wNode1 transmits a connection acquisition signal CAq to the neighboring communication nodes wNode2-wNode6. In this embodiment, the connection acquisition signal CAq at least includes the MAC address of the communication node wNode1, the latitude, longitude and altitude of the communication node wNode1 that sends the connection acquisition signal CAq.

Then, as shown in Figure 7B, the available communication nodes (eg, communication nodes wNode2-wNode5) respectively send back a connection acknowledgment signal CAk to the communication node wNode1. Each of the connection acknowledgment signals CAk includes the latitude, longitude and altitude of each of the communication nodes (eg, wNode2-wNode5). The communication node wNode6 loses the data packet and therefore does not return the connection acknowledgment signal, and other communication nodes still transmit the data packet. Then, as shown in Figure ^7c, the communication node wNode1 calculate the actual distances between each of the communication nodes wNode2-wNode5 and the switching node (eg bwRouter1 or wRouter1) according to latitude , length and altitude of each of the communication nodes wNode2-wNode5 and the switching node (for example, bwRouter1 or wRouter1), to select one of the communication nodes wNode2-wNode5 based on the current distances. In Figure 7C, the actual distance between the communication node wNode4 and the switching node the switching node the switching node (for example, bwRouter1 or wRouter1) is the shortest, therefore the communication node wNode1 connects to the node communication node wNode4 and transmits the data packet to the communication node wNode4.

By repeating the data transmission procedure shown in Figure 7A-Figure 7C, the data packet is transmitted from the terminal device wTag1 to the switching node (eg, bwRouter1 or wRouter1) quickly and accurately. Detailed operation and establishment of the location-based network system 100 have been specified in the above description, and therefore are not repeated hereinafter.

It should be noted that in Figure 7A-Figure 7C, the switching node can be wGateway1 and the communication nodes can be replaced by the switching node bwRouter1 or wRouter1, and the data packet is still capable of transmitting to a destination node. based on the data transmission procedure shown above. In this embodiment, if the data packet is successfully transmitted to the destination node, the destination node (i.e. switching node wGateway1) can get the routing path and transmit the routing path to the source node (i.e. , the wTag1 terminal device). The routing path can include all communication nodes that are selected to transmit the data packet. The source node stores the routing path, and uses the stored routing path to transmit data packets when the source node needs to transmit data packet to the same destination node the next time.

In this embodiment, if a communication node (that is, wNode1) sending the data packet determines that the available communication node wNode5 that is closest to the switching node (for example, bwRouter1 or wRouter1) becomes congested, the node communication node wNode1 selects the communication node (that is, the communication node wNode4) that is the second closest to the switching node bwRouter1 to transmit the data packet, thereby balancing the data flow in the location-based network system. In this embodiment, the communication node wNode1 determines whether the communication node wNode5 becomes congested according to a delay time of the connection acknowledgment signal transmitted by the wNode5. For example, if the delay time of the connection acknowledgment signal sent by communication node wNode5 is more than a predetermined time interval, such as one second, communication node wNode1 determines that communication node wNode5 it's congested. It should be noted that new communication nodes can be added to alleviate congestion if any of the communication nodes become congested. Also, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can be used as a communication node or terminal device in Figure 7A-Figure 7C.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based network system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. A location-based network system 200 of Figure 8 is different from the location-based network system 100 of Figure 1 in that the communication nodes bNode and wNode are replaced by a group of communication nodes NodeG in the system 200 of location-based network. The group of NodeG communication nodes includes a first NodeGa subcommunication node operating in the master mode and a second NodeGb subcommunication node operating in the slave mode. The switching node bwRouter and at least one terminal device bTag receive or transmit the data packet through the group of communication nodes NodeG.

Obviously, the NodeG communication node group of the location-based network system 200 does not require switching between master mode and slave mode. When the first NodeGa subcommunication node operating in the master mode receives the data packet, the first NodeGa subcommunication node transmits the data packet to the second NodeGb subcommunication node operating in the slave mode through a UART or SPI or I2C and switch to broadcast the data packet through the second NodeGb subcommunication node. In this embodiment, the group of NodeG communication nodes includes at least a first wireless communication module, a second wireless communication module, and a processor. Compared to the location-based network system 100 of Figure 1, the location-based network system 200 provides higher data transmission speed.

In addition, through a hardware, software and / or firmware upgrade, the group of NodeG communication nodes can be realized in a single communication node that can operate simultaneously in master mode and slave mode, or operate in a single communication mode. master-slave coexistence. In other words, a single communication node can achieve the operations of the master mode and the slave mode simultaneously, such that the communication node does not need to switch between the master mode and the slave mode. More specifically, by implementing a dual-mode chip in a hardware structure (for example, a wireless communication module) of the communication node, the communication node can perform such an operation for different protocols, realizing coexistence of the master mode and the slave mode. in a single communication node. Therefore, the transmission speed of the data packet is significantly improved.

In the embodiment of the location-based network system 100, a detailed operation and establishment of the location-based network system 200 has been specified, and therefore is not repeated hereinafter. It is to be noted that, in another embodiment, the switching node bwRouter is replaced by a group of switching nodes (not illustrated). The switching node group includes at least two sub-switching node groups, and each of the sub-switching node groups includes a first sub-switching node operating in the master mode and a second sub-switching node operating in the slave mode . For example, when the group of switching nodes includes three groups of sub-switching nodes, the first sub-switching nodes of the three groups of sub-switching nodes monitor three different channels respectively. Therefore, the bNode communication nodes in the location-based network system 100 or 200 are able to select different channels to broadcast the data packet, avoiding the transmission of the data packet to the group of switching nodes through it. channel, the case that may decrease the data transmission speed.

For the location-based network system 100 or 200 located in a place where crowds congregate, adding new terminal devices, switch nodes, or communication nodes is simple and easy, as long as the latitudes, longitudes, and altitudes of the devices terminals, switching nodes, or communication nodes are properly established. Furthermore, if the destination node of the data packets from different terminal devices is the same, the communication node can combine the data packets from the different terminal devices into one integrated data packet, and transmit the integrated data packet to the destination node, thereby increasing transmission efficiency.

In at least one embodiment, the terminal device wTag, the communication node wNode or the switching node bwRouter, wRouter or wGateway can further identify each possible data transmission path from a source node to a destination node, for example using the procedure as described in Figures 5A-5E, and store each of the possible data transmission routes in a routing table. The terminal device wTag, the communication node wNode or the switching node bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway further identify a total number of intermediate nodes from the source node to the destination node, and calculate the length of each possible transmission path of data from node source to destination node. Then the terminal device wTag, the communication node wNode, or the switching node bwRouter / wRouter / wGateway assigns the priority to each data transmission path according to the total number of intermediate nodes and the length of the paths of data transmission. For example, the priority of the data transmission paths can be calculated according to the following formulation: Xt = X "= o L i T ....., where X is the priority of the data transmission path , n is the total number of intermediate nodes, L is the length of the data transmission path from the source node to the destination node, i = 0,1,2,3 ..., T is the time of procedure for intermediate nodes. Therefore, the terminal device wTag, the communication node wNode or the switching node bwRouter, wRouter or wGateway can transmit data packets based on the priority of the data transmission paths. transmission path that has the highest priority is congested or broken, the data transmission path that has the second highest priority will be chosen for transmission.

In an alternative embodiment, if all possible data transmission paths are determined (for example, using the procedure as described in Figure 2A-2E), the source node (for example, the communication node wNode, bNode or the terminal device wTag, bTag) and the destination node (for example, the switching nodes bwRouter, wRouter or wGateway) can additionally calculate the distance between each intermediate nodes according to the longitudes, latitudes and altitudes of the intermediate nodes, and calculate a total length of each data transmission path by summing the distances between the intermediate nodes. The source node or destination node then selects a shorter data transmission path as the best path to transmit the data packets using a vector-based minimum included angle procedure that includes the following steps: generate a first vector from source node to destination node; generating a second vector from the originating node to each of the intermediate nodes that is within an effective communication range of the originating node; selecting a second vector that has a minimum angle with the first vector, and determining the intermediate node that forms the second selected vector with the source node as the best intermediate node to transmit a data packet received from the source node. It should be noted that the intermediate node receiving the data packet can be considered as a new source node after receiving the data packet from the original source node. By repeating the above steps to transmit the data packet from node to node, a better data transmission path can be determined by connecting all the best intermediate nodes. It should be noted that the communication node can be replaced by the switching node, such as bwRouter or wRouter, to achieve the best data transmission path.

It should be noted that a location-based network system can be implemented based on the combination of the embodiments in Figure 1 to Figure 8, and a data transmission path will vary based on the implementation of the location-based network system that it has multiple meshes with different type. For example, the data packet can be transmitted in the following combined route: (1) from bTag to bNode; (2) from bNode to bwRouter; (3) from bwRouter to wNode; (4) from wNode to wRouter; and (5) from wRouter to wGateway. For another example, the data packet can be transmitted in the following combined route: (1) from bTag to bwRouter; (2) from bwRouter to another bwRouter; (3) from another bwRouter to wGateway. Also, the bwRouter can be replaced by a bNode that has an IP address, therefore the data packet can be transmitted in the following combined route: (1) from bTag to bNode; (2) from bNode to another bNode that has an IP address; (3) from another bNode that has an IP address to wRouter; and (5) from wRouter to wGateway. It is to be noted that the data transmission path described above is not limited thereto.

Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to perform the procedure. The procedure described below can be performed using the configurations illustrated in Figure 1 through Figure 4H, for example, and reference is made to various elements of these figures in the explanation of the example procedure. Each block shown in Figures 9A and 9B represents one or more procedures or subroutines performed in the illustrative procedure. Additionally, the illustrated order of the blocks is by way of example only and the order of the blocks can be changed. The illustrative procedure begins at block 901.

At block 901, a first communication node operating in the master mode monitors a second communication node operating in the slave mode to receive a data packet broadcast by the second communication node.

At block 902, the first communication node recognizes a data packet destination node after receiving the data packet broadcast by the second communication node operating in the slave mode.

At block 903, the first communication node determines whether a first distance between the first communication node and the destination node is shorter than a second distance between the second communication node and the destination node according to latitude, length and altitude of each of the first communication node, the second communication node, and the destination node. If not, the procedure continues to block 904; if yes, the procedure continues to block 905.

At block 904, the first communication node continues to operate in the master mode and does not broadcast the data packet.

At block 905, the first communication node switches to slave mode and broadcasts the received data packet from the second communication node.

At block 906, the first communication node switches to master mode after broadcasting the data packet received from the second communication node.

After block 906, the procedure may additionally include a block 907: the first communication node monitors the data packet broadcast by the second communication node operating in the slave mode, to determine if the data packet broadcast by the first node communication is successfully received by the second communication node according to a data packet acknowledgment code. If yes, the procedure returns to block 901, if not, the procedure continues to block 908. At block 908, the first communication node switches to slave mode and broadcasts the data packet again. At block 909, the first communication node increases the transmission power to broadcast the data packet after a confirmation period longer than a waiting period.

Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to perform the procedure. The procedure described below can be performed using the configurations illustrated in Figure 5A-5G, for example, and various elements of these figures are referred to in the explanation of the illustrative procedure. Each block shown in Figure 10 represents one or more procedures or subroutines performed in the illustrative procedure. Additionally, the illustrated order of the blocks is by way of example only and the order of the blocks can be changed. The example procedure begins at block 1001. In this procedure, each communication node of the network system, in which the location-based communication procedure is applied, is operated in a slave mode in an initial state.

At block 1001, a first communication node operating in the slave mode switches to a master mode to transmit a data packet.

In block 1002, the first communication node detects neighboring communication nodes and calculates a distance between each of the neighboring communication nodes and a destination node according to the latitude, longitude and altitude of each of the communication nodes. and the destination node.

At block 1003, the first communication node selects a switching node closest to the destination node to connect to.

At block 1004, the first communication node transmits the data packet to the switch node closest to the destination node.

At block 1005, the first communication node switches to slave mode.

Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to perform the procedure. The procedure described below can be performed using the configurations illustrated in Figure 7A through Figure 7C, for example, and in the explanation of the example procedure reference is made to various elements of these figures. Each block shown in Figure 11 represents one or more procedures or subroutines performed in the illustrative procedure. Additionally, the illustrated order of the blocks is by way of example only and the order of the blocks can be changed. The illustrative location-based communication procedure begins at block 1101.

At block 1101, a first communication node transmits a connection acquisition signal to neighboring communication nodes to transmit a data packet, the connection acquisition signal including the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the first communication node.

At block 1102, the first communication node receives connection acknowledgment signals from available neighboring communication nodes, each of the connection acknowledgment signals including the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the corresponding available neighboring communication node. .

In block 1103, the first communication node calculates a distance between each of the available neighboring communication nodes and the destination node according to the latitude, longitude and altitude each of the available neighboring communication node and the destination node. .

At block 1104, the first communication node selects an available neighbor communication node closest to the destination node to connect to, and transmits the data packet to the nearest available neighbor communication node to the destination node.

After the data packet is successfully transmitted to the destination node, the procedure can additionally include one or more of the features explained below.

At block 1105, the first communication node receives a routing path transmitted by the destination node, the routing path including all communication nodes selected to transmit the data packet.

At block 1106, the first communication node stores the routing path and uses the stored routing path to transmit another data packet to the same destination node.

Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating a location-based communication procedure in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to perform the procedure. The procedure described below can be performed using the configurations illustrated in Figure 1 or Figures 5A-5E, for example, and reference is made to various elements of these figures in the explanation of the illustrative procedure. Each block shown in Figure 12 represents one or more procedures or subroutines performed in the illustrative procedure. Additionally, the illustrated order of the blocks is by way of example only and the order of the blocks can be changed. The illustrative procedure begins at block 1201.

At block 1201, a terminal device, communication node, or switching node identifies each possible data transmission path from a source node to a destination node.

At block 1202, the terminal device, communication node, or switching node stores each of the possible data transmission paths in a routing table.

In block 1203, the terminal device, communication node, or switching node identifies a total number of intermediate nodes from the source node to the destination node and calculates the length of each possible data transmission path from the node. from source to destination node.

At block 1204, the terminal device, communication node, or switching node assigns a priority for each data transmission path according to the total number of intermediate nodes and the length of the data transmission paths. It should be noted that the priority of the data transmission paths can be calculated according to the following formulation:

X ^í = Y ^j Lí T .......

t = 0

where X is the priority of the data transmission path, n is the total number of intermediate nodes, L is the length of the data transmission path from the source node to the destination node, i = 0, 1,2,3 ..., and T is the procedure time for the intermediate nodes.

At block 1205, the terminal device, communication node, or switching node transmits data packets based on the data transmission path that has the highest priority.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure covers modifications and variations provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. A location-based network system (100), comprising: a first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) comprising at least one communication module (21) and a processor (22); Y a second communication node (bNodel) comprising at least one communication module (21) and a processor (22), and configured to broadcast a data packet, in which the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) is installed in a fixed geographic location and a longitude, latitude and altitude of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) are configured on a hardware of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) during an installation procedure of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6); the second communication node (bNode1) is installed in a fixed geographical location, and in which the data packet broadcast by the second communication node (bNode1) comprises a longitude, a latitude and an altitude of the second communication node (bNode1 ); Y wherein the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) is configured to: receive the data packet broadcast by the second communication node (bNode1); recognizing the destination node (bwRouter1) of the data packet after receiving the data packet broadcast by the second communication node (bNode1); determine if a first distance between the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6) and the destination node (bwRouter1) is shorter than a second distance between the second communication node (bNode1) and the destination according to the latitude, longitude and altitude of the first communication node (bNode2, bNode3, bNode4, bNode5, bNode6), the latitude, longitude and altitude of the second communication node (bNode1), and the destination node (bwRouter1) ; and broadcast the data packet received from the second communication node (bNode1) when it is determined by the first communication node (bNode3, bNode4, bNode5) that the first distance is shorter than the second distance, in which the data broadcast by the first communication node (bNode3, bNode4, bNode5) comprises the longitude, latitude and altitude of the first communication node (bNode3, bNode4, bNode5). The location-based network system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the location-based network system further comprises a switching node and a terminal device that is communicated through the communication nodes. The location-based network system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the switching node is further connected to a cloud network platform and uploads the received data packet to the network platform at the cloud or receives another data packet from the cloud network platform. The location-based network system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the terminal device has the function of RFID or visible light communication. The location-based network system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the communication node or terminal device is an unmanned aerial vehicle. The location-based network system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second communication node (bNode1) is further configured to: determine, by the processor (22), if the data packet is received by the communication module (21) of the second communication node (bNode1) in a waiting period greater than zero after the second communication node (bNode1 ) broadcast the data packet; Y broadcast again, by the communication module (21), the data packet when it is determined by the processor (22) that the data packet is not received by the communication module (21) of the second communication node (bNode1) in the waiting period after the second communication node (bNode1) broadcasts the data packet. The location-based network system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second communication node (bNode1) is further configured to: determine, by the processor (22), if the data packet is received by the communication module (21) of the second communication node (bNode1) in a confirmation period greater than zero after the second communication node (bNode1 ) broadcast the data packet; Y increase the transmission power, and broadcast again, by the communication module (21), the data packet at the increased transmission power when it is determined by the processor (22) that the data packet is not received by the module (21) communication of the second communication node (bNode1) in the confirmation period after the second communication node (bNode1) broadcasts the data packet. The location-based network system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second node of communication (bNodel) is additionally configured to: determine, by the processor (22), if the data packet is received by the communication module (21) of the second communication node (bNode1) in a confirmation period greater than zero after the second communication node (bNode1 ) broadcast the data packet; Y activate a warning light when it is determined by the processor (22) that the data packet is not received by the communication module (21) of the second communication node (bNodel) in the confirmation period after the second communication node (bNodel). communication (bNodel) broadcasts the data packet.